Something wonderful happened at the shelter recently: the perfect family adopted Nina and Sawyer (now Dugg) together. Nina loves her buddy so much that she would scale the fence between their kennels to be with him. Their new family writes: The kids are awesome.  They are a lot of fun. They have helped bring joy back to the house. They really are wonderful dogs.

Here's a picture of Eve (Midnight) and Greta (Simba), the two sisters that were adopted together.  Their new person made them some special kitty toys and  and reports that they follow her around the house all day long.  As you can see from this picture, the sisters love each other and are grateful to have been adopted together.

Dori's person says "I just wanted to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to adopt Dori.  I can't imagine not having her in my life. Everywhere we go people stop us to greet her and tell me how pretty she is and how she has such a nice way about her.  I am very lucky to have her!

Mimi is a lucky kitty - she was adopted at the age of 11 (she is now 16) and her person is now in vet school. She reminds us to mention how Mimi rolls over for belly rubs, and asks everyone to consider a senior cat when visiting the shelter. Mimi asks everyone to consider resisting the temptation to pose their cats in silly hats.
Belle the great dane is as lucky as she is cute. She lives on a farm in Maine with her new person, who thinks she's so beautiful that he had a professional portrait done. He also takes her for long walks, feeds her a special diet for her sensitive stomach, and keeps us up to date on her many adventures.

Tony's new parents could hardly wait to send us a photo and an update on him. They wrote "he's bright and frisky and shows much love to his new parents for rescuing him."

What could be better than pictures of happy kids with their happy dog? Not much, especially when the dog is Petey (now Campion), the American bulldog mix. His new "mom" writes that he is "doing really well and is mostly trained. We have taken him out to many different places and he is very good with the kids. He knows where he can sleep and not sleep even though sometimes like today I found him sleeping in the bed with the kids." Looks like Petey is a real member of the family!

Randy the cat (right) is happy in his forever home with his new best friend, who helps him clean those hard to reach places.

Chase (the shepherd) and Woody (the lab mix) were adopted from the shelter by the same family. We hear that "they are getting along great and love each others company as well as our whole family.  They both love the snow and get lots of exercise chasing each other around the yard.  After Chase recovered from his elbow surgery he now joins Woody on a daily run with his person.  They are meeting lots of new friends and people in the neighborhood.  Although Chase was, and is still shy, he has come a long way out of his shell and is starting like people more and more each time he meets someone new." 

Wanted to send along some photo's of Diamond [left](we now call her Niko), so you could see for yourselves how well she is doing. She was like a different dog 24 hours after she arrived at her new home, and she and her big sister, Sasha, are getting along famously, which pleases me so much. . . .She greets me every morning wiggling and waggling to see me with a big "smile". She just lights me up!!
Dexter's new family sent us a picture of him enjoying a nap, and tell us "he has become very comfortable here!"

Bella's people write: "We wanted send you an update on our lovely Bella, who was Ella when we adopted her from the shelter.  Bella lives with her two adult humans in a house in Cambridge, where she gets lots of attention and likes to keep tabs on her people. Her favorite things are eating, lying in the sun, and getting in the car.  She enjoys walks the most when everyone goes together - the more people, the better - and is so well behaved on the leash.  Bella is the most obedient and trainable dog we've ever known - she learns new commands immediately, and is eager to please.  People stop us on the street to tell us how pretty she is."

Clyde the pocket beagle looks awfully cozy in his new home, where he gets plenty of toys, treats and petting.

 

Pebbles' new person writes: I adopted Pebbles in May and just thought I'd send you guy a few pictures.  She loves her new big brother Einstein and they get along great. She also loves playing with socks (especially my fuzzy red one's), and also pretty much anything else that hangs, dangles, can be batted around, carried, or could possibly be mistaken as a toy in any way.

Sable the collie enjoys hanging out with two bunnies, her fellow alumni from the shelter. She even "helps" them eat their baby carrots. Sable is helpful to people as well, and regularly visits a local nursing home to brighten the residents' day.
Here are Salt and Pepper, formerly Cooper and Casey, aka "the Boys". They've completely charmed their new person, who gives them lots of love and plenty of toys.

Logan the golden retriever was a skinny half-grown puppy when he was found on the street by a good samaritan one cold and snowy night. We were delighted to find him the perfect home with someone who loves goldens. He grew up into a gorgeous affectionate guy who lives happily with his person and two cats.

Remember Tonka? He was a stray puppy who needed surgery for bilateral hip displasia. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Tonka Fund was created, and we were able to give Tonka the help he needed. Today, he's a great big gorgeous shepherd lab mix who lives happily in South Boston with his person, running on the beach and drawing admiring comments from passersby. What a success story!

 

One of our volunteer dog walkers, a gentleman named Al, had just started to think about bringing a dog into his family when Hank appeared at the shelter.  After a few weekends of walking and getting to know each other, Hank and Al drove off together and Hank has been enjoying having a new family, complete with an experienced dog walker.
 

What could be better than a soft lap and a comfy blanket? Lola the bulldog mix is now called Molly, and her owner writes "Molly is doing great!  She's still super cuddly - has to constantly be around people & cuddled up next to you.  I've been taking her down weekly to my grandfather's to keep him company for a couple hours now that my grandmother's passed away she's been an excellent friend to him. 

Here's Bella, the teachers' pet. Really - she was adopted by a couple who are teachers at Milton High School. They tell us "her name is now Bella after her beautiful eyes. She’s doing what she loves to do- sitting on the window sill and watching the world go by."
We love to be able to post "before" and "after" pictures of pets. Teddy the Akita was found in the woods - his rescuers think he was out there for a long time. He recovered from his ordeal, and we were lucky enough to find a couple who know and love Akitas to take him home. He was fresh from a trip to the doggy spa when he came to visit us, and we couldn't get over how beautiful he is inside and out.

Here, doing his best imitation of a stuffed animal, is Kasper, our shelter mascot. Kasper is a senior maltese who was a breeding dog at a puppy mill. He was nursed back to health by Stan Dworkin, one of our volunteers, and now spends his days sitting at the front desk, picking up supplies at pet stores, and delighting residents at local nursing homes.

Here's an excerpt from a great note from Gunner's new family: Buddy [Gunner] is a real joy to have around, we take him everywhere with us.  . . . He has enriched our lives in so many ways I could go on writing all night. . . Every evening as soon as I get home he picks up the nearest object & starts prancing around like a little puppy - it just melts all the stress of a days work away.  
Marley the cat is pictured contemplating his good fortune. He went from an unpleasant life outdoors to the lap of luxury, complete with matching teddy bear and a doting human companion. Thanks to Marley (and his person) for allowing the late great Chuckie to enjoy his last few months in their home.

Cyrus came to visit us recently, and volunteers gathered to celebrate. Cyrus was in very bad shape when he was seized from a neglectful owner.  We nursed him back to health, and a boxer-loving family took him home.  He has thrived with his new people, nearly doubling his weight to a healthy 100 lbs and growing out a shiny coat.   We couldn't be happier that noble, gentle Cyrus has the loving home he truly deserves.

That's Toby, the black lab/golden mix, on the right. He came to the shelter as a tiny puppy with his mom and littermates. He's pictured with his buddies Seamus, the birthday boy, and Cassie, a rescue from Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue. The senior goldens posed nicely in their birthday hats, while silly Toby ate his.

Chanel was adopted as a kitten by a volunteer who was willing to give her a chance, despite the fact that Chanel does not have full use of one of her back legs.  This challenge doesn't slow Chanel down a bit, and she has, as is clear in this picture, grown into a gorgeous cat.  She is now living happily with two other rescued cats.

Bear is a purebred soft-coated wheaten terrier who was abandoned at our vet's office.  Bear's luck soon changed, and he was adopted by a couple who dote on him.  He's pictured wearing his raincoat, on his way out for another long walk in the park.
 

Widget's owners sent us this wonderful picture and update: Here's Widget (formerly Merry) having a little rest on the sofa with her pal Rocky.  She's so fun to have around - and she absolutely adores and idolizes Rocky.
 

Chloe (now Darby) is a red and white female husky adopted by a family with a lonesome male husky (Decklin, on the right).  We could tell it was love at first sight all around, and her new family writes: "We could not have picked a better addition to our family . . . even the cats enjoy her.  She has bonded incredibly with our other husky, Decklin - they are joined at the hip every second of the day."
 

Truman (now Duke):  Truman himself sent us a holiday card, in which he wrote: "I'm sending you some pictures of me and my dad.  I am so happy here.  My day is spent playing, playing, napping and playing.  My dad is funny, he even dresses me up and teaches me to dance the macarena [pictured]."
 

What a face!  Amber's owner writes:  This picture was taken 4th of July weekend on my brother's boat in Maine.  Amber had the best time!  She went on the boat, canoe and tubing, too.  She was all smiles all weekend.  She has been my pride and joy over the past year and I'm so happy to have her.  It's been great educating people about pit bulls and showing them that not all pit bulls are bad dogs.  I have been told that Amber is one of the friendliest dogs that most people have ever met!

Maura and Haley are two senior ladies who were adopted from us not long ago.  Their new mom asked us to post their pictures with advice for potential adopters: anyone who passes up a senior cat doesn't know what they're missing!

Sawyer's new owner writes: I just wanted to give the shelter an update on Colonel Mustard, now Sawyer, who I adopted on Columbus Day '06. He greets me at the door when I get home, loves to give hugs and eskimo kisses, and has taught himself to do forward rolls. Here's a photo of Sawyer with his favorite Christmas present from his grandparents - the mouse squeeks!

Ruby is a fifteen year old three-toed box turtle.  Ruby, like many of her long-lived kin, has had several families.  She is now happily living at a local pre-school, where she delights the children and the staff.  For more information about reptiles, check out the website for the New England Herpetological Society.

Chester was an unneutered pit bull found on the streets.  "We brought him home where he became the joy of our lives.  He even graduated from 2 levels of Happy Dog training!  He is a very happy dog who makes everyone laugh and feel loved. Don't believe what you hear about pits - it's the owner, not the dog.  He's gentle as a lamb, as the cats, mice, and rabbits in our yard can tell you. "

Here's Fenno, the handsome young lhasa boy who was adopted from us a puppy. His original family had no idea of what they were getting into when they bought a puppy - it's a big commitment. Fortunately for Fenno, a nice lady from Cambridge stepped in to give him a forever home. Thanks to her experience with dogs and a flexible schedule, the two are living happily ever after.